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Before you begin to make fun of the headline used for this article, we must tell you that the vermin extractors will also be serving an educational purpose. Johannesburg’s general owl population has been in decline for years as a result of urbanisation, but new owl projects are helping to combat this.

The solution is not a new one.

In fact, in February last year, an article was published explaining that other South African companies, such as brewing giant SAB, and paper manufacturer Mondi, are also using owls with great success.

City of Johannesburg spokesman, Nkosinathi Nkabinde, said yesterday:

The city has opted for the owl solution. Owl nesting and release boxes have been installed in three schools in Alexandra as this three-year project will be educating schools on the role owls play in eradicating rats.

We have to eliminate the conditions in which the rodents thrive and for this we need the active cooperation of all residents of Johannesburg.

Nkabinde explained that illegal dumping and careless disposal of food and waste were still the primary causes of the rodent problem.

At least 40 schools across Johannesburg are already participating in owl projects, and Jonathan Haw, from EcoSolutions, said:

In the township owl projects, the kids think the projects are just marvellous because they don’t get to see much wildlife. The kids even come to school on Sundays to feed the owls.

Haw went on to say:

What people don’t realise is that rat poison is not the best method of control. Every year, about R17 million is spent on rat poison in urban centres, and the method is largely ineffective.

On average, a family of barn owls can consume 2 500 rats a year. The other thing about them is that they regulate their own breeding – they’ll breed in relation to the rat population of a specific year.

Basically, if there is a surge in the rodent population in their territory, the owls can rear up to 20 chicks because there is so much food available.